Key Dates for Agriculture

As a reminder for our agricultural clients, below are some of the impending key dates in your sector:

1st August 2018

If the Rural Payments Agency have granted you a derogation then you may be able to cut or trim hedges throughout August and sown oilseed rape or temporary grassland – remember to check the specific wording of your derogation before acting.

The beginning of the closed period for applying organic manure with a high readily available nitrogen content (for example, slurry) to tillage land on shallow or sandy soils (except where crops will be sown before 15th September 2018).

20th August 2018

Ecological Focus Area crops to be established by this date. These must be retained until at least 14th October 2018.

1st September 2018

You can now cut or trim hedges without a derogation.

The start of the closed period for applying organic manure with a high readily available nitrogen content (for example, slurry) to grassland on shallow or sandy soils.

The start of the closed period for applying manufactured nitrogen fertilisers to tillage land.

Remember, if you do not adhere to the cross compliance rules it could affect your payment under the Basic Payment Scheme.

More detailed information can be found on the Cross Compliance pages at the www.gov.uk website.